AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN MONARCHY. 



55 



to religion, 6,757 were Roman Catholics, 208 

 Oriental Greeks, 187 Protestants, 1,025 Jews, 

 and 150 others. 



The periodical press of Austria, in 1875, 

 was divided as follows : 



The public debt of Austria increased 99,000,- 

 000 florins in round numbers in the first half 

 of 1877. The total debt was thus increased 

 to 2,937,000,000 florins, and the annual interest 

 to be paid by the state to 119,230,000 florins. 

 This increase is twice as large as that of 1876, 

 the total increase for the whole of 1876 being 

 but 48,230,000 florins. There were also issued 

 10,400,000 florins of Salina bonds. The de- 

 crease of the consolidated state debt amounted 

 to 3,675,949 florins. 



The political subjects prominently engaging 

 public opinion in both halves of the Empire 

 during 1877 were, the "Ausgleich" between 

 Hungary and Austria proper (see HUNGARY) 

 and the Eastern Question. The sufferings of 

 the Slavs in Turkey aroused the sympathies 

 of their brethren in Austria, so that, when 

 General Tchernayelf made a trip to Prague, 

 he was received with great ovations by the 

 Czechs. The authorities, fearing disturbances, 

 ordered him to leave ; and, as he refused to do 

 so, he was escorted to the frontier by two po- 

 licemen. In the beginning of May, a large 

 number of interpellations on the Eastern Ques- 

 tion were made in both the Austrian Reichs- 

 rath and in the Hungarian Diet. On May 4th, 

 the ministers gave identical replies in both 

 Houses, to the following effect : 



Austria maintains an attitude of benevolent in- 

 terest in the Christian subjects of the Porte, and, 

 while observing strict neutrality, reserves the right 

 to protect its own interestSj or intervene with efforts 

 for the cassation or localizing of the conflict. The 



ministers recognize the Empire's intimate connec- 

 tion with, and interest in, the affairs of European 

 Turkey, but deem a resort to warlike measures for 

 their protection unnecessary, in view of the attitude 

 of the other powers, and the cordial support _the 

 Government can command from the representatives 

 of the people whenever action becomes necessary. 



In the latter part of June, the corps in Dal- 

 matia and on the Croatian border were sup- 

 plied with the necessary artillery, while at the 

 same time the reserves belonging to them were 

 called out. According to the official journals, 

 no immediate intervention was thought of, but 

 it was stated that it was necessary for Austria 

 to be prepared to oppose any encroachment 

 upon her interests. In July, the ministers, in 

 replying to interpellations, both in the Austrian 

 and Hungarian parliaments, stated that Austria 

 had no desire for an increase of territory, and 

 intended to leave her neutral position only 

 when the interests of the monarchy should 

 seem to be threatened. On July 31st a meeting 

 of Austrian and Hungarian ministers was held 

 at Vienna. The policy of Count Andrassy 

 was entirely approved by his colleagues, and 

 he was empowered to take measures for an 

 eventual strengthening of the troops stationed 

 along the southern frontier. The Cabinet also 

 discussed the question of the cost estimated 

 at about 25,000,000 florins of mobilizing four 

 divisions, for the purpose of reenforcing the 

 troops on the frontier, should that measure be 

 adopted. An interview between the Empe- 

 rors of Germany and Austria took place in 

 the beginning of August, after having been 

 spoken of for a long time. It was originally 

 intended that they should be accompanied by 

 their chancellors, but this was not done. On 

 August 8, Emperor William arrived in Ischl, 

 where he was received by the Crown -Prince 

 Rudolphus, who was stopping there with his 

 mother, the Empress. The Austrian Emperor 

 arrived shortly after. The Emperors then had 

 a lengthy conference, and the rest of the day 

 was spent in private. On the following day, 

 the 9th, Emperor William departed, accom- 

 panied by Francis Joseph, to Odensee. All 

 official dispatches insisted that the meeting was 

 of an entirely private character; and a dispatch 

 to the London Time*, from Vienna, asserted 

 that it had no reference to the policy of Aus- 

 tria and Germany in the Eastern Question. The 

 semi-official journals of Berlin and Vienna, on 

 the other hand, while stating that the meeting 

 had no political significance, still admitted that 

 it demonstrated the continuance and strength- 

 ening of the triple alliance. This meeting of 

 the two Emperors was followed on the 18th 

 by that of their chancellors, at Salzburg. The 

 proceedings were kept entirely secret. But, 

 both in Berlin and Vienna, any intention of 

 either Prince Bismarck or Count Andrassy to 

 bring forward or encourage any attempt at 

 mediation at that moment, was positively con- 

 tradicted in official quarters, and the convic- 

 tion expressed was that neither Austria nor 

 Germany would abandon the reserve which 



